Stefanie Suk – Looking Outwards – 03

Adidas has been exploring the application of 3D printing to sneakers in the past few years. It was not that long ago when Adidas was able to release their innovative 3D printed shoe, which was created with a Silicon Valley startup company called Carbon. The 3D printing method they use to manufacture is told to be printed with zero support material, in other words, the company is not only able to reduce complex traditional manufacturing processes but they can reduce raw material costs as well. This printing method, which Carbon calls the Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) technology, is applied to producing Adidas’s 3D printed shoes. What I admire about this production is how effective 3D printings are to create Adidas runner shoes all economically, environmentally, and visually. The open and dense lattice structure of the shoe’s cushion not only gives aesthetic patterns but it also offers a perfect lockdown fit to the feet and stable cushioning to the shoe. Thus, the lattice also shows the creator’s artistic sensibilities to create the most suitable structure for the shoes. The fact that Carbon and Adidas was able to come up with a 3D printed shoe using the perfect material and structure shows how much they have been studying the 3D printing technology, and shows how successful they were with their final product. This success really made me admire the AdidasXCarbon collaboration for 3D printed shoes.